For the uninitiated, and for those claiming that a $1000 tent shouldn't need seam sealing, heres the reason that a $1000 tent MAY, or may not, require seam sealing. Hilleberg uses a sil nylon fabric they call kerlon. Kerlon is silicone treated with a multi pass treatment on BOTH sides of the fabric. The silicone is actually what gives the nylon its high tear strength. Untreated nylon, even a high ripstop pattern is fairly easy to tear without the silicone treatment. The silicone allows the fabric to stretch, and distribute to tear load over a greater number of threads, giving it a higher tear strength. The problem with silicone treatments is that nothing sticks to silicone, other than silicone, so they can not be seam sealed with anything other than liquid silicone. Hilleberg gets around this somewhat by using a flat felled seam( you will have to google this), and using small needles. This makes it very hard for water to penetrate through the needle holes. However, there are still needle holes, and a hole is a hole. Other manufacturers do not use 100% duel sided silicone treated fabrics for this reason. They mostly use a sil /poly blend. Meaning one side is silicone coated, and the other side is polyurethane coated. This allows the seams to be taped and completely seam sealed. However, the downside to polyurethane coating is the tear strength is greatly reduced. And can even be made worse than an un coated fabric. Hilleberg is making the strongest tents possible , using the best material, and construction methods available. This means a silicone coated fabric for tear strength, and a flat felled seam for seam strength. Given enough hydrostatic pressure, all material, and seams will leak. So the answer is you will have to seam seal the seams if they leak in your conditions. Most people might not ever see the conditions required for the seam to leak (70mph wind driven rain) so they never have a problem. Theres not too many tents that will stand up to these conditions in the first place. These tent are worth what they charge because they can remain standing when most houses wouldn’t. There are also other factors at play regarding hydrostatic pressure, seam construction, thread, needles, etc that other manufacturers severely skimp on, that hilleberg doesn’t. So yes they are worth the money if you really need one. But if you dont want to put some sealer on the seams if your conditions require it, than you probably dont need this tent anyway, and you can buy a north face tent🤷♂️
OUTDOORS55: Excellent, extremely well informed post, a joy to read and appreciate. I wouldn't be in the least bit bothered if I were to experience water ingress on this tent, as everything made can not work as intended sometimes.
You are spot on. I have a hilleberg atlas tent, and had water leaking through the loose center top cover in heavy rain, ( so was not able to keep vent’s open.) its sits pretty much horisontal and the seams didnot work as intended. I asked hilleberg what to do and they sent me a seamseal tube. It worked out super good and never had a leak there ever since. So its possible to use seamseal on the outside og a silicon coated tent fabric, but you need the right sealer.
Thanks for making this video! The hard wind exposes weaknesses in tent designs. Videos like these help making buying decisions. I will stay with traditional geodesic designs of separate inner and outer tents.
I have a Tarra. It took 18 inches of wet, heavy snow on a Boy Scout trip with my son several years ago. It is a bomb proof shelter and is my go to if SHTF.
You buy Hilleberg to be guaranteed protection against the forces of the weather. I mean these are tents that are used in expeditions. The tent still withstands the wind well but not the rain. Hope Hillberg sees this video. It is clear that they need to rethink the seams and stitches. At the price and the reputation of tents, it must not fail as it does here.
I love extreme weather wild camps. Pity about the leaks but it does happen from time to time across all brands, at least the tent stood up where others may have folded. A couple of quid for a tube of sealant and you will be reet. I was going to buy a hilleberg soulo for my winter bad weather wild camping (and still might especially now the black label model has been released) adventures but was offered an mint unused Crux Storm X2 for an absolute steal, too good to turn down. I must admit in bad weather outings I always take a waterproof bivvi to protect my down bag just in case the wet creeps inside through leaks or me being a div, it's super light and I don't notice it in my pack. My Crux is bomber and so far never let a drop of wet in but it's an inner pitch first so I need to get it up sharpish in bad weather even though the inner has a DWR coating and dries rapid. It is drum tight when pitched so not quite as noisey inside in the wind as some single pitch tents can be. I do try get a sheltered spot if possible when it's wild, even though the tent might handle it my nerves might not lol. Swings and rounderbouts I guess, as you know every tent is a compromise of sorts. Epic video bud. Stick with the hilly, seam seal it, double pole it if your going out in storms and make sure you buddy up your pegs for belt and braces and you will be ok. Again great video and good to note you kept calm and jolly considering the situation 👍
If I paid over a grand for a tent and that happened it would be getting sent back. They get tested to winds well over 70mph. Send it back and get it fixed or replaced.
Fascinating, Alistair. Good to know that it can be cured. I had a fine Keron 4 and seam sealed just part of it, but it was never subject to 70mph winds. My previous Nammatj 3GT was awful and I sold it in disgust. Good review.
Used to have a hillerberg jannu and I ended up seam sealing mine which stopped all leakage!. They say it doesnt need it because of tightness/technique of the stitching and thats probaly true 99.8% of the time but harsh wind driven rain and puddles of water pressing up against the inner tent corner stitching defintly let water through in mine. Amazing tents though, I only sold mine because it was just to heavy
@@corylocatelli4139 A mountain laurel designs trailstar made from dcf. its def stronger in really serious winds 50-60mph+(actually measured) then the jannu although I never tried double poles on the jannu which would greatly improve its strength. trailstar is perfect for windy uk conditions apart from when it snows but we dont get that so much😥 mines 350grams outer and 450grams for seperate inner bathtub/bugnet, so 800grams total. I dont think theres anything stronger in the wind for that kind of weight!
Very enjoyable video. I love winter camping I have a saitaris with an extra set of pole's not cheap by any means but its what's needed for bad weather camps.
The evidenvc please. It’s just an assumption that your tent will be flawless. Before you say this put both tents side by side to do same test. It’s very challenging weeather for any tent.
I definitely think that these weather conditions merit the use of double poles and possibly double pegging. I like this tent for its strength and internal space and would like to use my titanium tent stove in it during the winter. I wouldn't intentionally be going out in those conditions as cycling wouldn't be too much fun in that wind, though I do have guyline attachments for my stovepipe in case it did get windy. I also have an e-Vent bivvy bag to protect my sleeping bag if driving rain did make its was inside. I've never seen a tent pitched in such an exposed location in such high winds and driving rain, you certainly like a challenge!
Well done for braving the elements and videoing it for us to enjoy. Not great though that the rain got through your Tarra in places. Driving wind and rain will do that though. Keep up the good work. ⛺️💨👍🏼
We recently had a zoom meeting with Petra Hilleberg the head of company. Anyone could attend. She answered many of our questions. There were couple of issues raised regarding leaking Akto tents. What happens in driving rain with strong wind after a while (same as in this video) tent can develop a drip through the top vent zipper. Akto is their most sold tent, thousand and thousands are sold, but only few had this issue, she said. She recommended to DIY zipper with seal sealant. Same applies to some Soulo tents when wind will drive rain under the storm cover onto the vent zips. It’s not effective to do it in factory as they have no space to seal thousands of tents and leave it to dry over night. Remember they are a small European company. I think they should include seam sealer with tents what can establish leak problem. I believe lot more of Aktos, Soulos Tarras and other models could develop leak in such conditions but there are not that many complains as majority of people don’t experience these conditions.
Very disappointing to see the seams fail on a Hilleberg. You deserve better for the money you paid. I have a Roben's Starlight 2 which has been in winds of around 80mph with driving rain and no water penetrated.
Thanks for this video. Honest question, as the front and rear poles are not supported, like in the Quasar, do you think double poling would be the answer? Regarding the leak, disappointing to see as I’m thinking about this tent, but would probably seam seal it anyway as a precaution. It’s all good, until it fails.
The unsupported front poles on this design are a definite design weakness as compared to the pole structure of a Quasar were the poles support each other ,especially in a tent designed to take the main wind load front /rear .
I’ve just bought a Tara today the leaking was a little disheartening, have you tried anything to stop the leaking or have you contacted hilleberg about it at all?
The leaking from the seams is a manufacturing fault. None of my other Hilleberg tents leak at the seams. You should be fine, hopefully. I've used seam sealant on all seams, I will contact Hilleberg at some point. If you look at the seams in direct sunlight from the inside, it will show if there is any holes. Or set it up in your garden on a rainy day.
@@alistairgranda8169 Thanks mate I appreciate the advice. I had a terra nova voyager with the exact same seam issue. Hopefully I have better luck this time. All the best.
The bivvy bag would be well received in that tent at the moment! I got an e-Vent bivvy bag in a closing down sale and that goes everywhere, on the basis that I'd rather it be with me than in a draw back at base!
About the only person in the entire world that has a problem with a hilleberg leaking. I owned the tarra actually let me rephrase that, I lived in My tarra and never had one single issue. In weather just as bad as this. Makes me think you work for north face or something....
For the uninitiated, and for those claiming that a $1000 tent shouldn't need seam sealing, heres the reason that a $1000 tent MAY, or may not, require seam sealing. Hilleberg uses a sil nylon fabric they call kerlon. Kerlon is silicone treated with a multi pass treatment on BOTH sides of the fabric. The silicone is actually what gives the nylon its high tear strength. Untreated nylon, even a high ripstop pattern is fairly easy to tear without the silicone treatment. The silicone allows the fabric to stretch, and distribute to tear load over a greater number of threads, giving it a higher tear strength. The problem with silicone treatments is that nothing sticks to silicone, other than silicone, so they can not be seam sealed with anything other than liquid silicone. Hilleberg gets around this somewhat by using a flat felled seam( you will have to google this), and using small needles. This makes it very hard for water to penetrate through the needle holes. However, there are still needle holes, and a hole is a hole. Other manufacturers do not use 100% duel sided silicone treated fabrics for this reason. They mostly use a sil /poly blend. Meaning one side is silicone coated, and the other side is polyurethane coated. This allows the seams to be taped and completely seam sealed. However, the downside to polyurethane coating is the tear strength is greatly reduced. And can even be made worse than an un coated fabric. Hilleberg is making the strongest tents possible , using the best material, and construction methods available. This means a silicone coated fabric for tear strength, and a flat felled seam for seam strength. Given enough hydrostatic pressure, all material, and seams will leak. So the answer is you will have to seam seal the seams if they leak in your conditions. Most people might not ever see the conditions required for the seam to leak (70mph wind driven rain) so they never have a problem. Theres not too many tents that will stand up to these conditions in the first place. These tent are worth what they charge because they can remain standing when most houses wouldn’t. There are also other factors at play regarding hydrostatic pressure, seam construction, thread, needles, etc that other manufacturers severely skimp on, that hilleberg doesn’t. So yes they are worth the money if you really need one. But if you dont want to put some sealer on the seams if your conditions require it, than you probably dont need this tent anyway, and you can buy a north face tent🤷♂️
Spot on!! and its much easier to re-apply with age then pulling of flaking seam tape, much better for long term durability
OUTDOORS55: Excellent, extremely well informed post, a joy to read and appreciate.
I wouldn't be in the least bit bothered if I were to experience water ingress on this tent, as everything made can not work as intended sometimes.
You are spot on. I have a hilleberg atlas tent, and had water leaking through the loose center top cover in heavy rain, ( so was not able to keep vent’s open.) its sits pretty much horisontal and the seams didnot work as intended. I asked hilleberg what to do and they sent me a seamseal tube. It worked out super good and never had a leak there ever since.
So its possible to use seamseal on the outside og a silicon coated tent fabric, but you need the right sealer.
Thanks that really helpful knowledge
If you're not a paid ambassador you probably should be
Thanks for making this video! The hard wind exposes weaknesses in tent designs. Videos like these help making buying decisions. I will stay with traditional geodesic designs of separate inner and outer tents.
I have a Tarra. It took 18 inches of wet, heavy snow on a Boy Scout trip with my son several years ago. It is a bomb proof shelter and is my go to if SHTF.
I love how our fair cousins across the pond ask questions like "init it?" Love y'all 🤗.
These hillebergs are on a different level
You buy Hilleberg to be guaranteed protection against the forces of the weather. I mean these are tents that are used in expeditions. The tent still withstands the wind well but not the rain. Hope Hillberg sees this video. It is clear that they need to rethink the seams and stitches. At the price and the reputation of tents, it must not fail as it does here.
Nonsense make a tent yourself than. So easy to write this. SEAM sealer and done it is. It's just about physics.
Seamseal it job done
I love extreme weather wild camps. Pity about the leaks but it does happen from time to time across all brands, at least the tent stood up where others may have folded. A couple of quid for a tube of sealant and you will be reet. I was going to buy a hilleberg soulo for my winter bad weather wild camping (and still might especially now the black label model has been released) adventures but was offered an mint unused Crux Storm X2 for an absolute steal, too good to turn down. I must admit in bad weather outings I always take a waterproof bivvi to protect my down bag just in case the wet creeps inside through leaks or me being a div, it's super light and I don't notice it in my pack. My Crux is bomber and so far never let a drop of wet in but it's an inner pitch first so I need to get it up sharpish in bad weather even though the inner has a DWR coating and dries rapid. It is drum tight when pitched so not quite as noisey inside in the wind as some single pitch tents can be. I do try get a sheltered spot if possible when it's wild, even though the tent might handle it my nerves might not lol. Swings and rounderbouts I guess, as you know every tent is a compromise of sorts. Epic video bud. Stick with the hilly, seam seal it, double pole it if your going out in storms and make sure you buddy up your pegs for belt and braces and you will be ok. Again great video and good to note you kept calm and jolly considering the situation 👍
If I paid over a grand for a tent and that happened it would be getting sent back. They get tested to winds well over 70mph. Send it back and get it fixed or replaced.
That why I wont spend so much on a tent.
Desperate. Excellent video, exciting stuff and hard to film. Well done doing this.
Fascinating, Alistair. Good to know that it can be cured. I had a fine Keron 4 and seam sealed just part of it, but it was never subject to 70mph winds. My previous Nammatj 3GT was awful and I sold it in disgust. Good review.
Holy mackerel! I'm thinking pegs, tie downs, gussets.....fair play to you for this great insight video.
Used to have a hillerberg jannu and I ended up seam sealing mine which stopped all leakage!. They say it doesnt need it because of tightness/technique of the stitching and thats probaly true 99.8% of the time but harsh wind driven rain and puddles of water pressing up against the inner tent corner stitching defintly let water through in mine. Amazing tents though, I only sold mine because it was just to heavy
It get’s lot heavier when soaked haha
Sold the Jannu? What tent did you replace it with?
@@corylocatelli4139 A mountain laurel designs trailstar made from dcf. its def stronger in really serious winds 50-60mph+(actually measured) then the jannu although I never tried double poles on the jannu which would greatly improve its strength.
trailstar is perfect for windy uk conditions apart from when it snows but we dont get that so much😥
mines 350grams outer and 450grams for seperate inner bathtub/bugnet, so 800grams total. I dont think theres anything stronger in the wind for that kind of weight!
@@dontgooutdoorproductions2574 Awesome I'll have to take a look!
Reminds me of when I was in whitby last year. Relentless wind and rain all night. Well I did pitch on a cliff top.
I had a quasar for years never let a drop in in extreme weather, no excuses for this surely
Yeah my t3rra novas have never let me down, I'd be sending this tent back.
@@CragScrambler absolutely 👍
Don't you just hate smug bastards!!
Very enjoyable video. I love winter camping I have a saitaris with an extra set of pole's not cheap by any means but its what's needed for bad weather camps.
Great Video. Enjoyed every bit of it
This tent should be sent back, I've got a tent under two hundred pounds that doesn't leak like this!!
The evidenvc please. It’s just an assumption that your tent will be flawless. Before you say this put both tents side by side to do same test. It’s very challenging weeather for any tent.
I definitely think that these weather conditions merit the use of double poles and possibly double pegging.
I like this tent for its strength and internal space and would like to use my titanium tent stove in it during the winter.
I wouldn't intentionally be going out in those conditions as cycling wouldn't be too much fun in that wind, though I do have guyline attachments for my stovepipe in case it did get windy.
I also have an e-Vent bivvy bag to protect my sleeping bag if driving rain did make its was inside.
I've never seen a tent pitched in such an exposed location in such high winds and driving rain, you certainly like a challenge!
I like this extreme video, good to know that water leaks can happen also on Hilleberg in some circumstances.
Jeez, nasty situation to find yourself in. Everything wet. :/ Interesting real-life video.
Best wild camping channel on CZcams, keep them coming and thank you for sharing.👏
Love it
Thanks for sharing your experience. All fun and games ha ha.
Well done for braving the elements and videoing it for us to enjoy. Not great though that the rain got through your Tarra in places. Driving wind and rain will do that though. Keep up the good work. ⛺️💨👍🏼
We recently had a zoom meeting with Petra Hilleberg the head of company. Anyone could attend. She answered many of our questions. There were couple of issues raised regarding leaking Akto tents. What happens in driving rain with strong wind after a while (same as in this video) tent can develop a drip through the top vent zipper. Akto is their most sold tent, thousand and thousands are sold, but only few had this issue, she said. She recommended to DIY zipper with seal sealant. Same applies to some Soulo tents when wind will drive rain under the storm cover onto the vent zips. It’s not effective to do it in factory as they have no space to seal thousands of tents and leave it to dry over night. Remember they are a small European company. I think they should include seam sealer with tents what can establish leak problem. I believe lot more of Aktos, Soulos Tarras and other models could develop leak in such conditions but there are not that many complains as majority of people don’t experience these conditions.
Thanks for the feedback and explanation. All the best. 👍🏼
Very disappointing to see the seams fail on a Hilleberg. You deserve better for the money you paid. I have a Roben's Starlight 2 which has been in winds of around 80mph with driving rain and no water penetrated.
Thanks for this video. Honest question, as the front and rear poles are not supported, like in the Quasar, do you think double poling would be the answer? Regarding the leak, disappointing to see as I’m thinking about this tent, but would probably seam seal it anyway as a precaution. It’s all good, until it fails.
Some test for that tent.
Doesn't sound great for a top end tent. Great video
The akto is the same would never noticed if it wasn’t for the water dripping from the zip onto the footprint
Lol my kind of camping. Wild Camping Pembrokeshire, my mates channel look it up. We love camping in that weather lol
Dude that's so odd we both found this
Did they replace the tent
The unsupported front poles on this design are a definite design weakness as compared to the pole structure of a Quasar were the poles support each other ,especially in a tent designed to take the main wind load front /rear .
The pegs deserves the credits
Btw which one are used ? Nice vid
Y- pegs which are supplied with the tent. The pegs and guy lines perform great in strong winds.
Brutal
All that water and you spent HOW MUCH on the tent? Lol
I’ve just bought a Tara today the leaking was a little disheartening, have you tried anything to stop the leaking or have you contacted hilleberg about it at all?
The leaking from the seams is a manufacturing fault. None of my other Hilleberg tents leak at the seams. You should be fine, hopefully.
I've used seam sealant on all seams,
I will contact Hilleberg at some point.
If you look at the seams in direct sunlight from the inside, it will show if there is any holes. Or set it up in your garden on a rainy day.
@@alistairgranda8169 Thanks mate I appreciate the advice. I had a terra nova voyager with the exact same seam issue. Hopefully I have better luck this time. All the best.
That tent is supposed to be Bomb proof.
Me tent is full of wuh-uh!
Also I don't use my foot print.
I love es🤗🌬🌬🌬🏕😍
Chuffing hell...
And all that money ttt hillerberg
Fuck using a tent ha ha ha. Good quality waterproof bivi very low profile can deal with the wind much better.
The bivvy bag would be well received in that tent at the moment!
I got an e-Vent bivvy bag in a closing down sale and that goes everywhere, on the basis that I'd rather it be with me than in a draw back at base!
Why are you out of breath? You're sitting still in a tent.
What a cretinous remark. For all you know, he may be asthmatic.
He's in a stressful situation.
About the only person in the entire world that has a problem with a hilleberg leaking. I owned the tarra actually let me rephrase that, I lived in My tarra and never had one single issue. In weather just as bad as this. Makes me think you work for north face or something....
Are you for real????? Lad cop on...
Bell end.